Do ferrets make good pets?

Question

was just looking on freecycle http://www.freecycle.org and someone had posted the following: we have 2 ferrets that come with a large cage,very friendly,if
interested please let me know,,knife river area -- I was wondering do ferrets make good pets? Thanks

Answer 1

Ferrets make WONDERFUL pets ; I got mine
about a year & a half ago. I love her to pieces -
here is my personal opinion though;;

They are great if your looking for a pet that
is loveable, playful, curious, energetic, and amusing.
However, they require a lot of care & out of cage time
as well as patience & they also require A LOT of cleaning -
I take my ferrets cage apart & spray it down about once a
week & clean her litter box everyday. People say ferrets
are mean & that they stink. If you keep it clean - like I do
& spend time with your ferret it wont stink or be mean -
ok yeah. Ferrets are great pets :] haha




- - - - -
gah & I was reading some of the earlier
posts & when you give your ferret a bath
daily ; it will make them smell even more .
It strips their skin of their natural oils causing
them to produce more which will cause your
ferret to stink ; also having your ferret descented
& fixed will help as well ( most come already fixed
& descented ) If you train them properly & teach them
not to bite & scratch it will be ok . & I wouldnt exactly
say they are less work then a dog ; just about the same
amount if not more. They need LOTS of attention & caring
for & constant stimulation. I guess it's just a personal preferance ;

Answer 2

Yes, ferrets can be great pets. First, check to make sure you can legally own one. Some states, such as California and Hawaii, prohibit individuals from owing ferrets as pets. Some cities or local jurisdictions may prohibit ferret ownership. Others require licensing. Still others don't regulate ferrets at all.

As a ferret owner, I can tell you they are a great source of fun. They do have smell of musk, but you can add a supplement to their water to reduce the smell. They can live in a cage, but should have at least an hour a day outside of the cage to run and play. The more human contact they have the better. They do tend to nip at your feet, and the love smelly socks! They can (and should) be litter trained. It's a little more difficult than training cats, but it's not that difficult. Cats and ferrets get along very well -- my cats like to look at the ferrets, but they don't touch.

Ferrets are weasels, and they like to burrow into furniture, so you'll need to keep an eye on them.

If you are seriously considering getting one or more as pets, I have three suggestions.

1. Check out ferret care information on the web. www.ferretcentral.org is one good source, although not the only one.

2. See if there is a ferret show in your area and try to go and talk to ferret owners. There are many ferret clubs that sponsor shows. There is a list of some shows on the American Ferret Association's web site, www.ferret.org.

3. Make sure there is a veterinarian in your area that treats ferrets. It can be very difficult to find one in a time of need. One of my ferrets became seriously ill a couple of weeks ago and his regular vet was out of town. It took quite a while before I was able to find another vet that treated exotic animals.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It depends on the person.

I think a large part of figuring out if ferrets are the right pet for you is to see if they fit into your lifestyle. The most common reason people surrendered their ferrets were because they became too much work or the owner didn’t feel they had enough time. Will you be home enough to spend time with them and make time to get them out of the cage? Will you make time in the future if your lifestyle changes? They should be out for several hours of playtime a day in a ferret proofed area, as they can be very destructive and get into everything. This can be somewhat more challenging if you have animals that view them as prey, as you will need to constantly supervise. You also need to set aside time to change their bedding/litter and keep their cage clean to keep the odor under control.

One other things people often forget is to make sure you financially able to afford them because they do require regular vet care, which can add up as they age. Adrenal problems are common in ferrets, so an owner must also be able to afford the surgery to remove the adrenal gland and drug therapy afterwards if recommended by their vet.

I have owned a total of ten ferrets in the past and once my elderly boy passes I would not get another. I think they are delightful and entertaining creatures, but they do need a lot more of a time commitment then many would assume for a small animal.

Answer 4

I did not find that ferrets were good pets if you already have other pets. They are quite smelly and they chew through everything they can get their hands on. The worsst problem is the jealousy factor, however, as the ferret terrorized my dog whenever I went to pet the dog or feed the dog. The ferret would latch on and bite him. I had to give him to my sister, and she has no other animals besides him now. He has been trained not to bite and she does what she can to keep his smell at bay, but she loves him and he makes a good pet for her. It all depends on the personality of the ferret, but I'd suggest only getting one if you dont already have a pet.

Answer 5

FERRET, monkeys smell just as bad and are very mean. Do NOT get a monkey, you will regret it, i know it sounds like a good idea, it did to me to but trust me don't do it, they are SO hard to take care of, and some can be very mean, especially when they get older! I had a ferret not long ago, yes they do stink but you just have to clean its box, most of them are trained to go in a little box which makes it easy, and they are HILARIOUS pets, and totally adorable!

Answer 6

I've been to someone's apartment before who had ferrets, and it stunk pretty bad. I don't know if she just didn't keep the cage clean or what. Plus, they were always getting out of the cage (you have to make sure the holes in the cage are REALLY small, because they can fit through almost anything)

Answer 7

Yes. My parents have a male ferret and he is really friendly and if you keep the cage clean, then they dont stink. He plays with my son, chases the dog around the house and we've even taught him to give kisses :-)

Answer 8

They do and they don't , they do because the are entertaining to watch but they don't because even if they are litter box trained they will only use it in their cage, if they are out the will go in little corners, under your couch, etc, and they smell really bad even when descented.

Answer 9

I don't think that they make very good pets for small children. They tend to bite, they smell, and as far as I know they are illegal in the state of California. I don't know about the other states. I almost forgot that they have very sharp claws and tend to scrach.

Answer 10

They will not be happy kept in the cage. They like to run and hide in dark places. Their favorite spot would be like a easyboy, so be carful! They are pack rats, so hide your keys from them and anything else you don't want to go missing.